Letters to Amber

Dear Amber,

We never had the joy of watching you take your first steps
BUT you walked into our lives and into our hearts forever....

We didn't get to see you open your blue eyes or watch your red hair grow
BUT we know that you were "Mommy's girl" right down to your baby toes....

We never got to hear you say "Mommy" and "Daddy"
BUT we felt your kicks for many months as you kept Mommy and Daddy awake....

The Government says you never existed
BUT we know better as we held you in our arms and part of our family will always be missing....

We didn't get to buy matching dresses or use our double stroller
BUT we'll still always be the proud parents of two beautiful little girls....

We didn't get to go for a walk together and hold your little hand in ours
BUT we held your perfect and beautiful little hands in ours for a little while and didn't want to let go....

We'll never get to wave goodbye on your first day of school
BUT we'll never forget your wave to us on the ultrasound screen....

We'll never get to see you grow up, buy you ice cream, take you down the aisle on your wedding day or do so many things we long to do.  We'll never understand why God needed you more than we did....
BUT we do know that God is the only one who could love you more than us and He is keeping you in His care for us until that wonderful day when we're reunited in heaven!!

We love you so much sweetie!

With all our love,

Mommy & Daddy

November 11, 2001

If you were here, Amber Lanette………

How big would you be?

Would you be saying "Mommy" & "Daddy" and learning your ABC's?

Would you be fighting over toys and having tea parties with Kayla?

Would you be jealous of Joshua or intrigued & playful with him?

Would your hair be red or blonde or brown?

Would I be able to put clips in your hair or would you pull them out immediately like Kayla did?

Would you be shy or outgoing?

Would you be Daddy's girl or Mommy's girl?

Would you be a cuddly or busy little girl?

Would you like to wrestle & tickle Daddy?

Would you be potty trained?

Would you have fun making cookies (and a mess!) with Mommy?

Would you like to dance & listen to music?

Would you like Veggietales & Winnie the Pooh?

Would you like to play in the park and swing up in the sky?

Would you let me hug & kiss your owies away?

Would you be learning some more new words today?

Who would be coming to your birthday party?

Would you have a Winnie the Pooh or Blue’s Clues birthday cake?

Would you know how much we love & miss you now & forever?

If you were here Amber sweetie, then, and only then.... would this pain and ache in our hearts go away......

Our precious Amber,

Happy Birthday, little one.
Up to Heaven we send our love.

Two years have gone by, it's hard to believe.
We saw you yesterday, or so it seems.

Our love for you still grows and grows.
An unchanging love, a constant flow.

This day you burn within our hearts.
A little miracle from the start.

We'll light 2 candles in your name.
And sing that birthday song the same.

But we'll sing it to the sky.
For you're alive, you did not die.

Happy 2nd Birthday Amber!

We love you so much!

All our love to Heaven,
Mommy and Daddy,
Kayla and Joshua
XOXOXOXO

The following poem was written with much love by Grandad Salisbury on Amber's 4th Birthday:
Nov 11, 2003

Dear Amber,
WE REMEMBER...

The phone call from your daddy
The tears that we all shed,
The hurried plans to travel out
The thoughts that filled our head

The flight I don't remember
Just the sadness in our heart
As we came to hold you, Amber
Before we soon must part

Your Mummy was so brave
And your Daddy oh, so strong
As we met them in that room
And held you for so long

Your body seemed so perfect
We couldn't reason why
Our Father in the heavens
Allowed you thus to die

Your Daddy, I remember
Bore your body to the grave
Your Mummy by his side
Being oh, so brave

With broken hearts we pondered
The wisdom of God's ways
The Shepherd now had gathered
A lamb to sing His praise

The loving Shepherd keeps you
Safe from all harm and fear
In His arms He holds you
To Him you are so dear

And so today we miss you
We think what might have been
Your Mum would love to kiss you
And give you Dairy Queen

Your Daddy, he remembers
It would be party time
When you could blow your candles out
Four candles at one time

Kayla talks about you
She tells her brothers too
Of their lovely sister, Amber
Who's up beyond the blue

For although we cannot see you
We know that you are there
In the presence of the Shepherd
Who has you in His care

And soon we're going to see you
When we hear the Saviour's call
What a wonderful reunion
That will be for us all!

But until then, dear Amber
We just remember you
We know that you are happy
Up there beyond the blue

And so we're going to celebrate
Your birthday here today
We know that you would want us to
Amber, we think you're great!

The mention of my child's name may bring tears to my eyes.
But it never fails to bring music to my ears.
If you are really my friend, let me hear the music of her name
It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul.
Author Unknown